Andreas Weimann joins Derby and hopes ‘change will do me good’

Posted Friday, June 19, 2015 by theguardian.com

• Forward, 23, leaves Aston Villa after eight years
• Fee for Austrian is reported to be £2.75m

Andreas Weimann joins Derby and hopes ‘change will do me good’
Andreas Weimann said it would be strange not to be at Aston Villa after eight years at the club but he is looking forward to a new challenge at Derby.

Andreas Weimann has joined his former Aston Villa team-mate Darren Bent at Derby County after agreeing a four-year deal. The forward’s fee has not been disclosed but is reported to be around £2.75m.

The 23-year-old has spent his entire senior career at Villa, barring two loan spells at Watford in 2011, making 129 appearances and scoring 24 goals.

The Austria international, who was a peripheral figure under Tim Sherwood in the latter part of last season, said: “I’m excited to be here and I’m looking forward to the new challenge. Derby have plans to be successful and get promoted and that’s what attracted me here; I want to be part of that. The opportunity to play first-team football and drive the team to promotion is something that I want to do.

“I was at Aston Villa for eight years so I’m looking forward to this new stage in my career, although it will be a bit strange not being there. Eight years is a long time, especially in football, so maybe a change will do me good and get me started again.”

Weimann is also pleased to be linking up again with Bent, who signed permanently for the Championship club last week.

“I know Darren from my time at Aston Villa and I think that he is a really good signing for Derby,” Weimann said. “He did really well on loan here last season and, wherever he plays, he scores goals. I am not shocked that he did so well at Derby and I am sure he will score loads of goals next season as well.”